All About Mr. Gouge's Mentoring Group

I truly believe that every child has the ability to learn, grow and serve their parents and community so that the world they inherit is the world they can be proud to raise their own children in someday. Our schedules are filled with meetings, sports, work commitments and endeavors that make life hectic at best for many, coupled that with the horrors we see on TV each day and it's no surprise that our children are growing up in a world filled with doubt, sadness, and desperation leaving many to feel like they have limited self worth.

But what if for just a short period of time each week, we could put all the drama of life aside and focus on the things that help to build up a young person into an amazing adult? What if instead of focusing on what they do wrong we focus on how they are doing right? What if we show them that their contributions go beyond sitting in school and earning the grades you want for them? What if we dedicated even one lunch period a week to: sit and just talk with our students, find out what's important in their life, find out what their goals are and then help them see not only a positive path to obtaining those goals, but also help guide them on shaping others around them in a way that honors your family values and builds their self esteem?

Were talking about investing in the future of our nation. The leaders of tomorrow are the students of today. The greatest generation you and I will ever know is standing before us right now, just begging for our love, attention and affirmation. Were talking about making ourselves better by making our children better. Were talking about serving the Triangle so we can positively change the world.

Over the next school year I would like to provide a chance for your students to not only see how amazing they are, but to take what they learn and teach others around them to make a positive impact in our world.

What Will The Mentoring Group Look Like?What Should You Expect?

My hope is to find a small group of students that would like to meet once a week during our lunch period to just talk, learn from motivational videos, review PowerPoint presentations created from Tim Elmore's book entitled "Habitudes", and create a plan for success that is really tangible for their current situation. What I hope this doesn't become is a place to avoid detention, a study hall, a chance to complain about their situation and/or to seek self help (there will not be any counseling or advice given). I would like to provide a structured and safe environment for students to work together on forming positive behavior traits and then serving the world around them so others will want to follow in their footsteps. There is nothing to read, nothing to buy, nothing for you to do except talk with your student about the good things going on in their lives.

The format of the group will be to meet one time a week during lunch. Upon entry we will have a few down moments to just chat. On odd numbered weeks there will be a motivational video or PowerPoint for the group to review and then discuss among themselves. Everything we go over is listed on this site for your review ahead of time. Before each session ends, we will state one positive thing they will try to take away from the learning. On even numbered weeks we will just meet in the classroom so the students can build and strengthen positive friendships within the group (food, music, talking). You are welcome to join us for lunch at any time after checking in at the front office. Then on week 9 I would like to see the group reflect back on their learning and create a service project that they are responsible for following through with before we track back in (the service projects will be as simple as choosing something they can inherit from you over track out to make your life easier, IE: doing dishes, folding laundry, mowing yards, etc... and include the topics discussed).

Lunch Together: Students will eat together during lunch in an attempt to foster positive relationships, Parents are welcome to join us.Student Led Topics: During the final two cycles, students will create the weekly mentoring topic and PowerPoints per session.Service Week: Students take the 4 topics that have been discussed during the current cycle and use them to serve their family.

Lunch Together: Students will eat together during lunch in an attempt to foster positive relationships, Parents are welcome to join us.Student Led Sermon Jams: During the final two cycles, students will create the weekly mentoring topic and PowerPoints per session.Service Week: Students take the 4 topics that have been discussed during the current cycle and use them to serve their family.